Method of and machine for applying tape



Sept. 2,' 1930. F. M. FURBER 1,775,070

THOD 0F AND MACHINE FOR APPLYING TAPE med Jan. 15, 192s I y PatentedS'ejpc, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT .OFFICE EEEDEEICH M. EUEEEE, DECEASED,LATE or EEVEEE, MASSACHUSETTS, EY SAMUEL R. GUTLEB, ADMINISTRATOR, F

EEVEHE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNCE To UNITED SHOE MACHINERYUOBPORATION, OFPATEBSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY METHOD or Nn MACHneEEon ArrLYINe TAPE Applicationm'led January 15, 1926. Serial No. 81,428.

This'invention relates to methods of and machines for applying strips topieces of sheet material and is herein illustrated as -embodied in amachine kfor appl ing tape to' parts of the uppers .of boots andyshoes.

In the manufacture of boots and shoes it is common practice to applytape to shoe uppers or parts thereof usually forlzhe purpose ofreinforcing the edges or margins o uarw ters, vamps,'etc., and sometimesnot on y to reinforce the shoe part Abut to prevent lining from showingthrough perforations in the shoe part.v In the latter case a coloredtape is used and is a plied over the perforations on the inside o theshoe part.

The tape is ordinarily supplied from a reel, the free end appliedprogressively to a shoe part until the desired length has been laid inplace and the tape then severed preparatory to applying tape from thereel to the succeeding s ce part. p Hitherto considerable difficultyhasbeen experienced in performing this severing operation b reason ofthe fact that the tape, at the locaiity in which it must be severed,` isslack so that the cutting-off knife either does not make a clean cut orfails to sever the tape completely. According to one feature of the'present invention, the tape is pulled taut just prior to the severingoperation and maintained taut while this operation is performed. lIn`the illustrated machine, the tape is drawn from a reel by a combinedtape applying and feeding member, thetape on its way from the reel tothe applyin and feeding member passing through a gui e member whichengages the tape ri'ctionally; and, at the end o f the applyingoperation when it is desired to sever the tape, this guide member ismoved fawayl from the tape applying member so as to pu the tape tautbetween these two members preparatory to severing the tape. T he tapemay then be easily and eleanl cut.

According to another eature of the invention, cutting means is providedwhich is arranged to become o erative after the tape has been pulledtaut. n the illustrated machine, the guide member and the cutter areoperated in timed relation by an operator-controlled member manipulationof which just prior to the l the end of a tape laying operation causesthe following operations to take place in s equence. The guide is movedaway from'the tape applying member to pull the tape taut; the cuttermoves across the tape to sever it 55 while taut and then moves back intoinoperative osition; the guide moves toward the tape app yin member soas to present the free end of t e severed tapeA to that .memberpreparatory to the application of tape to a suc 60 ceeding shoe part.

According to another feature of the invention, the work-the shoe partand the tapeis fed and the tape applied continuously. In

Jthe illustrated machine there is provided for this purpose a smalldriven roller which may be heated if desired in order to soften thethermoplastic cement with which one side of the tape is commonly coated.With this construction the machine operates rapidly and permits the tapeto be laid in curved patterns Since it is held down only in a localityof small area.

These and other features of the invention, v including certain detailsof construction and combinations of parts, will be described as embodiedin an illustrative machine andN pointed out in the ap ended claims.

Referring now to t e accompanying draw- 1n s:-

igure 1 is an end elevation partly in section of a machine in which thepresent invention isembodied, a piece of sheet material bein shown inprocess of having a strip applie to it; z

Figure 2 is a perspective of the work-engaging parts of the machine inthe same position which they occupy in Figure l,

Figure 3 is a detail principally 1n elevation showing the work-engagingparts in a 9o different position, and

. Figure 4 isv an elevation showing more particularl the operative andinoperative positions o the cutter.

The machine comprises a base 5 having a 95 standard 7 extending upwardlyand rearwardly therefrom, said standard carrying a driving shaft 9 whichmay be rotated from any suitable source of power. This shaft passesthrough a casing 11 which is rigid 100 with the standard; and, in thiscasing, is mounted a train of gears which connect the rotary shaft 9with the tape-applying and work-feeding roller 13. This train of gearscomprises a small gear 15 fast to the shaft 9 anda series of idlymounted intermeshing gears 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24, the

last-named gear being fast to the small apmaterial 100, hereinafterreferred to as a shoe part, and the strip 200, hereinafter referred toas tape, are presented between the driven roller 13 and the idle rollerv25 and fed through the machine until near the completion of thetape-laying operationfwhen the tape is severed by the swinging rotarycutter 27, as indicated in Figure 3, a short distance in advance of theapplying tool or roller 13,

the trailing end of the partly applied piece of tape being applied' tothe shoe part 100- after the severing operation. It should beparticularly noted that the lower end of the casing 11 in whichtheapplying roller 13 is mounted extends rearwardly as well as upwardly andthat the shape and inclination of this casing permits the operator toobserve the operation of the roller and the manner in which the tape isbeing laid. The roller 13 may be heated, if desired, by an electric Aheating unit 29 mounted in an extension of the casing.

The tape 200 is carried by a reel 31which is supportedupon a ost 33bolted to the top of the standard 7. Xtending horizontally from thestandard is a bracket 35; and, pivoted to this bracket at 37 is a tapeguide or presenter 39. This tape presenter has the f outer face at itslower end rounded, as shown ves in Figures l and 3, and has fastened toits lower end a three-sided metal piece 41 to provide a guide slot forthe tape. Mounted upon the presenter or guide 39 is a friction tensiondevice for the tape comprising a plurality of spaced pins 43, 44, thesepins being in two sets. The set of three pins numbered 43 is carried bya block 45 integral with a plate 46 which is riveted to the presenter39. The set of two pins numbered 44 is carried by a block 48 inte ralwith slides 47 which lie in guideways ormed in the block 45. A

thumb-screw 49, rotatably mounted in theblock 45 but held fromlongitudinal movement 'with respect thereto, is threaded through theblock 48 so that by turning the screw the block 48 may be adjusted withrespect to the block 45. The free end -of the 'tape 200 is led from thereel 31 over the bracket 35, in and out between the pins 43, 44 andthrough the guide slotat the lower end of the presenter, the degree offriction with which the tape is held by the presenter depending upon theadjustment of the thumbscrew 49. After the desired length of tape hasbeen laid upon the shoe part, the pre- Senter 39 is vswung, to the rightabout the pivot 37, as shown in Fig. 3, to pull the tape taut andmaintain it taut while the tape is severed. The presenter normallyoccupies the angular position shown in Figure 1, relatively close to theapplying roller 13, being held in that position by means presently to bedescribed, against the tension of a spring 51 connected at one end to astationary part of the machine and at the other end to a stud 53 whichis carried by an upright extension of the presenter. On the stud ismounted a roll 55 which is held by the spring in contact with a cam 95on the end of an arm 57 carried by a hub 59 said hub being fast to arockl shaft 61 mounted in bearings in the standard 7. Fast to this.rock-shaft is one end of a lever 63 to the other end of which is pivotedthe upper end of a treadle rod 65, the rod being normally held down by aspring (not shown) and being adapted to. be moved up when a treadle(also not shown) is depressed.

The machine, as has been indicated above,

is provided with a cutter for severing the tape, said cutter being shownas a rotary disk cutter 27 which is swung from inoperative to operativeposition, as shown in Figure. 3, when the presenter is swung to theright to pull the tape taut. This cutter is fast to a pulley 67rotatably mounted at the lower end of an arm 69 the upper end of whichis pivot-ed about a shaft 7l and has a rightangled extension 73`at theend of which is a beveled segmental rack '75 the teeth of which meshwith the teeth of a complemental rack 77 carried at the outer end of anarm 79 the inner end of which is integral with the same hub 59 withwhich the arm 57 is integral, so that the two arms are swung in unison.The cutter pulley 67 is driven by a belt 81 which passes aroundsaidpulley and around a pulley 83 fast tothe outer end of the shaft 71.The inner end of said shaft has fast to it a small gear 85 which mesheswith a gear 87 fast to one end of a shaft 89 to the other end of whichis fast a spiral gear 91, said last-named gear meshing with a largerspiral gear 93 fast to the driving shaft 9. When the arms'57, 79 are intheir up position as shown in. Figures 1 and 2, the cutter 27 is ininoperative position, as best shown in Fig. 4, and the presenter 39occupies its position nearest to the applying'roller 13, being held inthis position, as has been indicated, by` a projecting cam 95 on-theouter end of the arm 57. Vhen the treadle is manipulatedto lower thearm's 57, 79 to their down position, the presenter,

e from above,

under the influence of the spring 51, is immediately swung away from theapplying roll 13, as' shown in Figure 3, and the cutter` is swung acrossthe tautly held tape, as shown in full lines in Figure 3, and in dottedlines' in Figure 4, to sever the tape. It will be vnoted that thismovement of the cutter takes place in a direction widthwise of ,the tapeand during the continuous feeding movement of the tape. After the tapehas been severed, a succeeding shoe part is presented to the Inachineimmediately behind the preceding shoe part and the arms 57, 79 arecaused to swing up again whereupon the cutteris swung to inoperativeposition and the presenter swung to the left to present the free end ofthe severed tape to the applying roller 13. It will be noted that thepresenter 39 may be held in its right-hand position for any desiredinterval after the tape has been severed .and a succeeding shoe part'fed to the machine so that the operator may start the laying of the freeend of the tape at the leading end of the shoe part or at any desireddistance from said leading end. It should also be noted that theoperator may sever the tape at any time after it has lbegun to beapplied to the shoe part.A It is thus possible to apply tape of anydesired length to any desired locality on the shoe part; and, inasmuchas the tape is applied to the shoe part the operator may observe itsapplication and thus judge accurately just when to sever the tape sothat its trailing edge may be laid -lush with the trailing edge of theshoe part or spaced a given distance from .said trailing edge of saidshoe part as may be desired.

In order to facilitate the guiding of the shoe part, an edge gage 97 ofany suitable type may be adj ustably fastened tothe table 98 ofthemachine as by a clamping screw 99 which passes through a slot in thegage and is threaded into the table.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A machine oftheclass described having, in combination, a support for a piece of sheetmaterial to whicha reinforcing strip is to be applied, means forapplying t e strip to the material, and operator-controlled means forpulling the strip taut in a locality adjacent to that engaged by theapplying means preparatory to severing the stri j i 2. A machine of theclass described having, in combination2 a support for a piece of sheetmaterial to which a reinforcing strip is to be applied, means forapplying the strip to the material, means for heating .the applying,means, and operator-controlled, means for pulling the strip taut in alocality adjacent to that engaged by the applying means preparatory tosevering the strip.

' 3. Amachine of theclass described having, in combination, of sheetmaterial to which a reinforcing strip is to be applied, means forapplying the strip to the material, means for severing the strip at alocality in advance of that engaged by thel applying means, and meansfor pulling the strip taut in that locality prior to the severingoperation.

4. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a supportfor a piece of sheet material to which a reinforcing strip is'to beapplied, means for applying the strip to the material, means for guidingthe strip lto the materiales it is applied, means for severing thestrip, and means for pulling the strip taut prior to the action of thesevering means.

5. A machine of the class described having,

a support for a piece in combination, a support 'for a piece of sheetmaterial to which a reinforcing strip is to be applied, means forapplying the strip to the material, means for guiding the strip to thematerial as itis applied, means for severing the strip in the localitybetween the applying means and the guiding means, and means for exertinga pull upon the strip in that locality to maintain it taut during thesevering operation.

6. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a supportfor a piece of sheet material to which a reinforcing strip is to beapplied having, in combination, a member for applying the strip to thematerial, a strip presenter located in advance of the applier, a stripcutter arranged to operate in the locality between1 the presenter andthe applier,

and means for causing relative movement of separation between thepresenter and the applier tojpull the strip taut and maintain it tautduring the operation of the cutter.

7. A machine of the class described having in combination2 a support fora piece of sheet material to vwhich a reinforcing strip is to beapplied, means for applying the strip to the material andv for feedingthe strip and the material over the support, a strip presenter locatedin front of the applyin means, said presenter having means for guidingthe strip and for holding it frictionally, and means for moving thepresenter toward the applying means to present thefree end of thestrip'to said means and to guide t-he strip during its application tothe material, and for thereafter moving the presenter away from theapplying means so as to pull taut that portion of the strip lyingbetweenthe applying means and the presenter preparatory to severing the strip.l l

8. A machine of the class describedjhaving, in combination, a supportfor a piece of sheet material to which a reinforcing strip is to beapplied, means for applying thestrip progressivel to the material, astrip presenter arrange ,to engage the stri at a locality in advance ofthat engaged y the" applying means, a cutter for severing the stripbetween the applying means and the presenter, said cutter being movableat Will from inoperative to operative position, and means for moving thepresenter to causevthe strip to be pulled taut when the cutter is movedto operative advance of that engaged by the roller, a cutter forsevering the strip between the roller and the presenter, said cutterbeing movable at Will from inoperative to operative position,

and means for moving the presenter to cause the strip to be pulled tautWhen the cutter is moved to operative position.

10. A machineof the class described having, in combination, a supportfor a piece of sheet material to which a reinforcing strip is to beapplied, means for applying the strip progressively to the material,means for guiding the strip to the material as it is applied, a cutterfor severing the strip, and means for pulling the strip taut prior tothe severing operation and for thereafter presenting the free end of thesevered strip to the applying means.

11. A machine of the class described having, in combination, asupportfor a piece of sheet material to which a reinforcing strip is tobe applied, means for applying the strip progressively to the material,means for guiding the strip to the material as it is applied, a cutterforfsevering the strip, and a member manipulation of which operates theguide and the cutter alternately first to pull the strip taut, then tosever the strip and then to present the free end of the severed strip tothe applying means.

12.'A machine of the class described having, in combination, a supportfor a piece of sheet material to which a reinforcing strip is to beapplied` means for applying the strip progressively to the material, acutter for severing the strip, said cutter bein-g normally ininoperative position, a strip presenter normally in a position close tothe applying` means but movable away from said means, andIoperator-controlled means for first moving the presenter away from theapplying means to pull the strip taut and for moving the cutter tooperative position to sever the 'st-ripA and for thereafter moving thecutter to inoperativehposition and the presenter toward the applyingmeans to present the free end of the severed strip to said means.

13. A machine of the classdescribed having, in combination, a supportfor a piece of sheet material to which a reinforcing strip is to beapplied, a member for applying the strip to the material, a guide fordirecting the tape to the applying member, said guide being mounted forswinging movement to- Ward and from said applying member, and a cuttermounted for swinging movementin a path the plane of which isat rightangles to that of the guide.

14. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a supportfor a piece of sheet material towhich a reinforcing strip is to beapplied, means for feeding the material and the strip continuouslyv overthe support and for applying the strip to the material, means forguiding the strip to the materialas it is applied, means for severingthe strip, and means for pulling the strip taut prior to the action ofthe severing means.

15.l A machine of the class described having, in combination, a supportfor a piece of sheet material to- Which a reinforcing strip is to beapplied, means for applying the strip to the material, means forvguiding the strip to the material as it is applied, means for severingthe strip by a draw cut, and means for pulling the strip-taut prior tothe severing operation.

16. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a supportfor a piece of sheet material to Which a reinforcing strip is to beapplied, means for applying the strip to the materia-l and for feedingthe strip and the material, means for guiding the strip to the applyingmeans, and a rotary cutter for to the material and for feeding the stripand the material, means for guiding the strip to the applying means, arotary cutter mounted for movement into the path of the strip forsevering the strip, and means for moving said cutter from severingposition in said path to inoperative position out of said path. n 18. Amachine of the class described having, in combination, a. support for apiece of sheet material to which a reinforcing strip is to be applied,means for applying the strip to the material and for feeding the stripand the material, means for guiding the strip to the applying means,rotary cutter mounted for movement into the path of the strip forsevering the strip, and operator-controlled means for moving said cutterfrom severing position in said path to inoperative position out of saidpath.

19. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a supportfor a piece of sheet material to which a reinforcing strip is to beapplied, means for applying the strip to the material and for feedingthe strip and the material, means forguiding the strip to the applyingmeans, and a rotary cutter for the applying means,

is to be applied, means for applying the strip to the material and forfeeding thestrip and the material, means for guiding the strip to arotary cutter for severing the strip, said ,I mounted, andoperator-controlled means for swinging said cutter into engagement withlthe strip.

21. A machine of the class described having, in,l combination, a supportfor a piece oi sheet material to which a reinforcing strip is to beapplied, means for feeding the material and the strip continuously overthe support and for applying the strip to the ma-l '2a terial, means forsevering the strip at a locality in advanrlze of that at whchit isngaged by the app ying means an means or thereafter presenting the fiieeend of the rotary tool and the severed strip to the applying means.

. 22. A machine of the class described havingfin combination, a supportfor a piece of sheet material to which a reinforcing-strip is to beapplied, a rotating member for feeding the material and the stripcontinuously over the support and for applying the strip to thematerial, means for severing the strip at a locality in advance of thatat which it is engaged by the rotating member, and means for thereafterpresenting the free end of the severed strip tothe rotating member.

23. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a supportfor a piece of sheet material to which. a' reinforcing strip` is to beapplied, a rotary tool for applying the strip progressively to thematerial and for feeding the strip and the materialymeans for guidingthe strip to the rotary tool, and a cutter operable to sever the Istripbetween the guiding means. p

24.' A machine of the class described having, in combination, aroller/of comparatively large diameter for supporting a piece of sheetmaterial to which a reinforcing strip is to be applied,- a roller'ofsmall diameter for applying vthe strip progressively to the material andfor feeding the stripv and the material, means forb guiding the strip tothe i feeding and applying roller, and a cutter ist4 operable to severthe strip between the app1ying roller and the guiding means.

machine of the class described having, in combination, a support for apiece of sheet material to which-a` reinforcing strip is: to be a plied,an applying tool, means for operatlng said tool, and a casin at thelower end of which said tool is carried, said asin extending u wardlyfrom the supports. and eing 4inchne rearwardly of the machine. s

* A26. A' machineof the class described hav.

cutter being pivotally e ing inclined rearwardly ofl t taching a supportfor a pieceA of ch a reinforcing strip ing, in combination, sheetmaterial to w is to be applied, an applying tool, means for operatingsaid tool, a casing at the lower end of which said tool is carried, saidcasin extending upwardly from the support an being inclined rearwardlyof the machine and .means for guiding the strip tothe app ying tool. i

27, A machine of the 'class describedhavmg, in combination, a supportfor a piece of sheet material to which a reinforcing strip is to beapplied, an applying tool, means for operating said tool, a casing atthe lower end,

of which said tool is carried, said Casin extendmg upwardly from thesupport an hay means for guiding the strip to the applying tool, and\acutter operatingv between the applying tool and the guide.

e machine,

28. A machine of the class described having, in combination,

sheet material, means for lding a. piece of tape to said material, adriven roll for feeding 'both the material and the tape and for applyingthe tape to the material, and operatar-controlled means for severing thetape.

a support for apiece of 29. The method of attaching a reinforcing i Ystrip to a piece of sheet material and severing the'strip whichcomprises attaching the strip progressively to the material, p the striptaut at a selected stage in the atoperation and severing the strip at alocality in which itis taut.

30. A machine for` appl ing adhesive tape to a piece of sheet materiahaving in combination, means for ap lying the tape to the material andforfee ing the' material and the tape, a tapeipresenter normallypositioned relatively close to said applyin means and adapted to engagethe tape in a vance of the applying means, a tape cutter adapted tosever they tape in a locality between the applying means and theresenter, and operator-controlled means or moving the presenter awayfrom the applying means near the end of the tape-laying o eration andfor causii the cutter to sever t e tape.

31.A tape to a piece of sheet maternal, having in combination, a supportfor the sheet material, a tape applier, a. tape presenter, a cutter, andoperator-controlled means for moving the presenter away from the applierand simultaneously 'for moving the lcutter to sever the tape.

'32. A machine for applying an adhesive` tape-to apiece of sheetmaterial, havingin combination, a roll for supporting the Work,

machine for applying an adhesive tape in position to be applied to asucceeding piece of sheet material.

33. A machine for applying an adhesive tape to a piece of sheetmaterial, `having in combination, a roll for supporting the Work,

\a second roll for applying the ta e tothe material and for feeding thewor means for severing the tape, a pivoted tape pre'- senter, and meansfor swinging the presenter about its pivot to present the severed end ofthe main portion of the tape in position to be applied to a succeedingpiece of sheet material.

34. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means forapplying adhesive tape to a piece of sheet material, and a cutting toolmounted for swinging move. ment across the path of the tape to beappliedby said applying means, said tool being 2o constructed andarranged to sever the tape by said swinging movement.

35. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means forprogressively applying adhesive tape to a piece of sheet material, and acutting tool mounted for lateral cutting movement Widthwise of the tapefrom side to side and across the path of the tape in itspassage to saidapplying means, said tool being constructed and arranged to sever thetape by said Widthwise movement.

. 36. A machine of the class described hav- 1ng,'in combination, meansfor applying adhesive tape to a piece of sheet material, arotary diskcutter, a pivotally supported arm for carrying said cutter across thepath of the tape to be' applied by said applying means to sever thetape, and means for rotating said cutter.

In testimonyV whereof I have signed my 40 name to this specification.

SAMUEL R. CUTLER, Administrator of the Estate of Frederick M.

Farber, Deceased.

eo i

DISCBLAHVIEF(v 1775,070.Frelem'ck M. Farber, deceased, .late of Revere,Mass., by Samuel R.

p of which is at right angles to that of the guide.

Cutler, Revere, Mass., administrator. METHOD or AND MACHINE FOR AP-PLYiNG TAPE. Patent dated September 2, 1930. Disclaimer iled by theassignee, United Shoe Machinery Oorporat'ion. Hereby enters thisdisclaimer to said claims 13, 30, and 31 of said patent which are in thefollowing Words, to wit:

13. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a supportfor a Y piece of sheet material to which a reinforcing strip is to beapplied, a member for applying the Strip to the material, a guide fordirecting the tape to the applying member, said guide being mounted Jforswinging movement toward and from said applying member, and a cuttermounted for swinging movement in a path the plane 30. A machine forapplying adhesive tape to a piece of sheet material, having incombination, means for applying the tape to the material and for feedingthe material and the tape, a tape presenter normally positionedrelatively close to said applying means and adapted to engage the tapein advance of the applying means, a tape cutter adapted to sever thetape in a locality between the applying means and the presenter, andoperator-controlled means for moving the presenter away from theapplying means near the end of 'the tape-laying operation and forcausing the cutter to sever the tape.

31. A machine for applying an adhesive tape to a piece of sheetmaterial, having in combination, a support for the sheet material, atape applier, a tape presenter, a cutter, and operator-control]ed meansfor moving the presenter away from the applier and simultaneously formoving the cutter to sever thc tape.

[Oficial Gazette Illa/rch 3l, 1.931.]

